Flying Colours PTE is making progress in tripling capacity at its facility within Bombardier Business Aircraft’s service centre at Seletar Airport in Singapore – recruiting new staff, adjusting its workflow layout and obtaining new equipment. Flying Colours provides interior services at the OEM’s facility, which is itself quadrupling in size. The Canada-headquartered companies’ five-year agreement was renewed in 2019.
Recruitment activity has begun to double workforce numbers by the summer of 2021. Flying Colours has already appointed four new recruits, who are being trained in the specialised techniques used by the finishing and cabinetry departments. The management team has also been strengthened with the addition of an operations supervisor. A further four technicians are expected to be recruited, trained and in place by the planned opening in the second half of 2020, with 10 more recruits anticipated to bolster numbers within the year.
To better support expected growth in demand for interior repairs and refurbishments, Flying Colours is also revising the facility layout to enhance workflow and incorporate new equipment. Three large spray booths will be complemented by the addition of a second sanding booth and additional polishing room, both of which will feature high-efficiency ventilation and filtration systems. In addition to wood veneers, the polishing room will support repairs of the increasingly popular granite countertop surfaces used in aircraft galleys and lavatories. The upholstery section will move to a larger area to support repairs for a diverse range of soft materials. There will also be extra storage space for soft goods, veneers and other interior components.
With the new equipment supplementing an already fully equipped interior shop, Flying Colours says its capabilities will ensure owners in the region have local access to the latest woodwork finishing techniques required for the flagship Bombardier Global 7500, as well as supporting full repairs for existing Bombardier aircraft. This complements the full scope of preliminary inspections, repair work, modifications and refurbishments already offered to complement Bombardier’s line and heavy maintenance services.
“It is an exciting time for Flying Colours as we continue to strengthen our brand in the Asia-Pacific region while working in tandem with Bombardier to deliver the expertise needed for the regional fleet,” said Paul Dunford, managing director of international operations at Flying Colours. “We are particularly excited about the addition of the exterior paint shop as external paint work is normally accompanied by significant interior modifications. Our new facility will be able to work on multiple cabin refurbishments in parallel. On completion the facility will be the largest OEM-owned business aviation maintenance facility in the Asia-Pacific region and owners will have a single source for maintenance, paint and interior refurbishment under one roof. That’s a real game changer for us and our customers.
“We’re working with local contractors to ensure minimal interruption of our current daily operations while ensuring that once the doors of the extended facility open, the team will be more than ready to satisfy the rise in throughput. We are already discussing projects with a number of customers from the region.”
